Bedfordshire League preview: January 9

Peter Francis

Published:16:10Thursday 07 January 2016

Share this article

The spotlight for Premier Division supported by Sportsform clubs this weekend falls upon the opening round ties in this season’s Britannia Cup.

For current holders AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College that means a trip to Hitchin Road to be hosted by the 2013-14 season winners Shefford Town & Campton seeking revenge for their league defeat at the same venue just a month ago.

Whilst also hitting the road will be last season’s beaten finalists Wilstead who make the short journey to the Football Centre to play a Flitwick Town side they beat 3-1 in league action in their last game before the Christmas break on their own patch at Jubilee Playing Fields.

For the current league leaders AFC Oakley M&DH it’s a trip to Weston Park to face second from bottom of the table Eastcotts AFC hoping for a repeat of their league visit back in September when they emerged 6-0 winners. Also on the road will be bottom of the table Elstow Abbey who journey to Harvey Close to take on seven times winners Caldecote who like the Abbey are having a far from enjoyable league campaign.

Perhaps the pick of the ties will be played out at Woburn Road where hosts Ampthill Town Reserves, sitting in third spot in the league, welcome second place Renhold United who netted a 5-2 home league win over them just 21 days ago to end the Town’s 12 game unbeaten league run.

Or even on the Green where hosts Ickwell & Old Warden and the visiting Marston Shelton Rovers, both of whom now look out of the title race, look upon this game to give their seasons a possible silver lining come next May.

Elsewhere over at Crawley Road the visitors to face the hosting Cranfield United now on a four game winning league run will be a Sandy side who have won just the twice on the road all season.

Whilst at their Playing Field headquarters Pavenham are visited by in form Sharnbrook who could yet be this season’s Britannia Cup dark horses.

For Division One supported by Wests Citroen Bedford sides the action for 10 of the 13 comes in shape of first round ties in this season’s Centenary Cup.

With league leaders Sundon Park Rangers having received a bye the highest place side in cup action will be second place Stevington who will have to be on the mettle if they are to emerge away winners at Moore Crescent against the hosting in form Houghton Athletic.

Whilst at Hillgrounds third place AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College Reserves will look for a repeat of their 2-1 home win in league action back in mid-November when Westoning visit.

Meantime over at Groveside the hosting Henlow will look to revive their season with a victory over a Riseley Sports side who have won just the once on the road in league action this season.

Whilst at their Sports Centre base Ickleford will start the firm favorites to make it into the hat for the last eight draw when called upon by bottom of the table AFC Oakley M&DH Reserves.

The final cup action comes at Mill Lane being the venue at which third from bottom hosts Potton Town take on the visiting Shefford Town & Campton Reserves who sit just one place above them in the league.

Apart from Sundon Park Rangers the other two sides enjoying a bye into the last eight draw are current holders Meltis Albion and Queens Park Crescents.

However, they will not be idle this weekend as they go head to head in league action at Miller Road, fifth place Albion looking for their third home win on the bounce which would see them up to second spot in the league table against a Crescents side who with the three points themselves would swap fifth and sixth spots in the league table with the Albion.

Division Two league action brings about a programme of just five games and for the still unbeaten leaders Cranfield United Reserves that means a trip to King George VI Playing Fields looking to preserve their 100% away record against fourth place Clapham Sports who themselves are still 100% on home soil this season.

Whilst at Grange Lane second place Cople Sports & Bedford SA also still holding down a 100% home record welcome sixth place Atletico Europa whose record on the road this season has brought about just a single victory at Lea Sports PSG back in mid-October.

Currently sitting in fifth place are Flitwick Town Reserves and for them its the short journey to Wootton Recreation Ground to be hosted by ninth place Wootton Village who will be looking for just their second home win.

Whilst for bottom of the table Marston Shelton Reserves it’s home action at their Playing Field base against seventh place Kempston Hammers Sports who to date have won just the once on the road.

The final action coming at Cutler Hammer being the venue at which tenth place Kempston Athletic with just one home win to their name all season are called upon by eighth place Bedford United who will make the trip looking to end a run of three consecutive away defeats.

In Division Three the game of the day sees the top two clash in Leagrave Park where second place Sundon Park Rovers play hosts to current league leaders Wixams, a victory for the Rovers would see the gap at the head of the standings close to just four points.

Whilst on the road will be third place AFC Dunton who will be looking for win number six on the bounce when they head for Renhold Playing Fields to be hosted by seventh place Renhold United Reserves.

Still very much in the promotion race are fourth place White Eagles and fifth place Wilstead Reserves who this weekend go head to head in Mowsbury Park, the hosting Eagles looking to return to winning ways for the first time in three home outings against their visitors who will be in search of league win number four on the bounce. Just below these two sides in the league are Caldecote Reserves and for them now on a four game winning run its a visit to Redborne School for a outing on the 3G surface against a Dinamo Flitwick side who have now lost their last four home games to drop into the bottom half of the league standings just one place above ninth place Shefford Town & Campton A who at their Rectory Road base will look to end a run of three consecutive home defeats when called upon by bottom of the table Clifton who are currently on a six game losing run.

The final action in this division comes at Bedford Road Recreation Ground where the two teams immediately above Clifton in the standings meet when tenth place hosts Sandy Reserves look for just their second home win against second from bottom of the table Meltis Albion Reserves.

In Division Four it’s also a clash between the top two clubs when, at the Sandy Academy, the still 100% league leaders Mid Beds Tigers play hosts to Polonia Bedford who will hit the road looking to preserve their own seasons 100% away record and close the gap on the Tigers to six points.

Whilst at Woodlands third place Bedford Albion now winners of their last four home outings play hosts to fourth place Caldecote A who are enjoying a three game winning run and with a fourth victory would swap places with the Albion in the league table.

Currently sitting in fifth place are Stevington Reserves and for them it’s home action at their Playing Field base against second from bottom of the table Henlow Reserves.

Whilst bottom of the table Lidlington United Sports also hit the road still in search of their first point/points of the season at Hillgrounds against the hosting sixth place AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College A.

The final action is due at Greenfield Road being the venue at which seventh place Westoning Reserves now losers of their last four home games receive a visit from eighth place local rivals Flitwick Tow A who will be in search of just their second away league win of the season.